Sometimes Losing is Winning

After a long time of “competing” in the social media race, I have finally decided to end it. Social media has become a highly saturated place where you get to play if you pay. Sometimes you pay with money but most often it is ‘time’ that you pay with. The more frequent you post, the higher your chances of getting attention. And long before you realize, you become imprisoned in a never-ending cycle of capture, edit, share.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of people, who seem to be doing it rather comfortably for years. Perhaps, they get motivated by the number of likes and appreciations, and that keeps them going and wanting for more. In all honesty, that is how it was for me as well – at least for some time in the beginning. Back then, Facebook had an excellent organic reach and it made sense to share content on a regular basis. Unfortunately, in recent years, their revisions in algorithms has completely devastated organic reach. The same holds true for Instagram since it was acquired by Facebook.

My point is… the addiction to social media “likes” drives many people. It certainly drove me in the beginning but when I look at my current state of mind with respect to my engagement with photography, I realize and clearly see the negative impact of all that social media attention I received over the years. Somewhere along this time period, I have ceased to enjoy the process of seeing the world and clicking the shutter button upon instinct. It’s difficult to admit, but the fact is that my efforts were to garner more attention from the world. I had stopped photographing for my own satisfaction and happiness, and to fulfill my own creative desires. I had not realized it for quite some time but something at the back of my mind, perhaps my subconscious was telling me that something was out of place.

How NOT to stay motivated in Photography

Shooting to stay on top, be the best, or to get more people to see my work, were not the right kinds of motivations. Following that path had not only robbed me of the pleasure of photography but also my peace of mind. I’m only glad that I came to my senses rather soon. I hope this moment would mark a significant and a joyful change in my personal life as well as my professional life as an artist. In the end, the only thing that’s worth our time, money, and effort is happiness and contentment. So that’s my honest advice to you too.

A man from Sor Laspur walks down an unpaved road with a view of the snow-capped mountain peaks. Chitral, Pakistan

Hi, I am Hammad Iqbal, a professional photographer based in Doha. Welcome to the "HI Blog" where I share tutorials, tips and techniques about shooting and post-processing images using Lightroom and Photoshop. Follow my updates by subscribing to my newsletter and discover with me the art of photography and post-processing!

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About “hi blog”

My name is Hammad Iqbal and I'm a professional photographer and a creative consultant based in Qatar.

My passion for sharing knowledge led me to create this blog. And with it, I hope to inspire and educate others about the wonders that photography has to offer.

And lastly, my efforts to create an educational resource for my fans and followers, that is YOU, depends on your valuable suggestions and feedback. I'd love to know how you benefit from this blog and what more can be done to make it even better. So feel free to share your thoughts and help me make this blog an indispensable guide and reference for beginners and experienced photographers alike. Thank you.

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